Getting Started with Manacove: Your AI Commander Deck Building Companion

Building a Commander deck can feel overwhelming. With over 27,000 unique Magic cards to choose from, finding the right 99 cards (plus your commander) that work together is no small feat. That's where Manacove comes in.

What Makes Manacove Different?

Traditional deck building tools require you to know exactly what you're looking for. You filter by mana cost, search by exact card names, and manually piece together synergies. Manacove flips this approach on its head—instead of searching for cards, you have a conversation about your deck idea.

No need to memorize card names or browse through endless database results. Just describe what you're imagining, and the AI explores the card pool alongside you.

Step 1: Share Your Deck Idea

Every great deck starts with a spark. Maybe you pulled a legendary creature from your last draft and want to build around it. Maybe you saw a cool combo online. Or maybe you just have a vibe—something chaotic, something grindy, something explosive.

Start your conversation with any of these:

Commander name: "I want to build around Meren of Clan Nel Toth"
Strategy description: "I want a graveyard value deck that grinds out wins"
Budget constraint: "Something competitive but under $150"
Power level goal: "Casual—around a 6 or 7"
Thematic vibe: "I want a deck that feels like a haunted forest"

Manacove meets you wherever you are. Beginner or veteran, vague idea or detailed vision—the AI adapts to your starting point.

Step 2: Explore Cards Together

Once you've shared your idea, Manacove gets to work. The AI doesn't just list cards—it builds a cohesive 100-card deck with:

Proper mana curve: Cards distributed across costs for smooth gameplay
Category balance: Ramp, removal, card draw, win conditions—all accounted for
Synergy lines: Cards that work together, explained clearly
Strategic rationale: Why each card earned its spot

You're not reading a database dump. You're having a conversation with a deckbuilding partner who explains their choices and listens to your feedback.

Ask Questions as You Go

Don't know what "aristocrats" means? Curious why a specific card was included? Want to understand how your win conditions work? Just ask. Manacove answers in plain language, turning every deck build into a learning opportunity.

Step 3: Refine and Adjust

No deck is perfect on the first try. As you review the list, you'll have ideas:

"Can we add more interaction?"
"This card is out of my budget—what's a cheaper alternative?"
"I want the deck to be faster. Let's lower the curve."
"What if we leaned harder into sacrifice synergies?"

Manacove adjusts in real time. Swap cards, shift strategies, or explore completely different directions. The AI recalculates mana curve, color distribution, and category coverage as you iterate—no manual spreadsheet required.

Step 4: Export and Play

When the deck feels right, export it to Moxfield with one click. Every card keeps its category tag (Ramp, Removal, Card Draw, etc.), so your list arrives organized and ready to tune.

From there, you can goldfish hands, proxy cards for testing, or start ordering singles. The hard part—finding those 99 perfect cards—is done.

Real-World Example

Let's say you want to build a Meren of Clan Nel Toth deck. You tell Manacove:

"I want a Meren graveyard value deck that grinds out wins, budget under $200."

Manacove responds with a complete decklist featuring cards like:

Sakura-Tribe Elder and Yavimaya Elder for repeatable ramp
Spore Frog and Caustic Caterpillar for recursion value
Grave Pact and Dictate of Erebos for aristocrats payoffs
Eternal Witness and Timeless Witness for recursion
Gray Merchant of Asphodel and Blood Artist as win conditions

Each card is explained, the budget is tracked, and the mana curve is displayed live. If you don't like a card, swap it. If you want more sacrifice outlets, just ask. The deck evolves through conversation.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Manacove

1. Be Specific About Constraints

The more context you provide, the better the deck. Mention:

Budget: "Under $100" or "No card over $10"
Power level: "Casual" or "cEDH" or "Pre-con level"
Playgroup meta: "My friends play a lot of combo" or "We avoid infinite combos"

2. Treat It Like a Conversation

You don't need to know every card. Describe what you want conceptually:

"Cards that punish opponents for drawing"
"Ways to protect my board from wipes"
"Something that synergizes with Ashnod's Altar"

Manacove translates intent into precise card selections.

3. Iterate Freely

Your first build is a draft, not a commitment. Swap cards, shift themes, or ask "what if" questions. Every iteration helps you discover what you really want the deck to be.

4. Export and Test

Once you export to Moxfield, goldfish a few hands. If something feels off, come back to Manacove and refine. The conversation doesn't end when you export—pick it up anytime from your deck history.

What's Next?

Ready to build your first deck? Start with a free account—you get 3 deck builds per month, perfect for trying commanders, testing strategies, or brewing for your playgroup.

As you explore what Manacove can do, you'll find it's more than a deck builder. It's a conversation partner that makes the overwhelming card pool feel navigable, turns vague ideas into concrete lists, and helps you understand the why behind every choice.

Want to dive deeper? Check out our guides on budget Commander deck building and optimizing your mana curve.